Disease Detectives

Welcome to Disease Detectives! In this event, participants will use their investigative skills in the scientific study of disease, injury, health, and disability in populations or groups of people.

The information below should not be interpreted as an extension of the rules. You can find free online copies of the current rules for download on the 2023 Rules page of the Science Olympiad website. The official rules in the current Rules Manual take precedence. This event is presented in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Foundation.

Resources & Links 

• What You Need to Know About Infectious Disease - in this free e-book from National Academies Press you can learn about the biology, history, and future trends of some of the world's most widespread and harmful infections and explains what we need to do--as individuals and as a society--to address this global challenge. Written for a general audience, but drawing on reports of the Institute of Medicine this book provides an overview of infectious disease that may be useful to Disease Detectives everywhere.
  • What You Need to Know About Infectious Diseasecompanion website - delve further into the world of infectious disease at companion website developed by the National Academies to support the book of the same name. 
• CDC Science Olympiad page
• 2020 Power Point
• 2020 Internet Resources
• Food-Borne Illness Chart from the FDA
• Disease Detectives Training Overview Handout
• Disease Detectives Background & Surveillance Notes
• Disease Detectives Outbreak Investigation Notes
• Disease Detectives Patterns, Control, and Prevention Notes
• CDC NERD Academy Materials, Videos & Resources - new for 2021-2022
  • CDC NERD Academy Curriculum (lesson plans, videos, activities) 
  • CDC NERD Academy Survey - NEW! Give your thoughts on the materials and use!
  • Workshop Recording - Explore Public Health with the CDC NERD Academy - an introduction to this new curriculum!
• World Health Organization 2nd Edition Online Textbook - Basic Epidemiology
• CDC Website on Environmental Health
• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
• Science Ambassador Program - Lesson Plans and more
• Epiville (Outbreak Simulation Columbia University)

Science Olympiad Store Materials

• New! 2023 Disease Detectives Starter Pack
• 2023 National Test Packet
• 2022 National Test Packet
• 2021 National Test Packet
• 2020 National Test Packet
• 2019 National Test Packet

Practice Problems & Tests

• Practice Test - 2021 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 Troy High School Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 BirdSO Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 National Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 UChicago Invitational
• 2020 Sample Test
• 2019 Sample Test 
• 2018 Sample Test
• 2017 Sample Test
• Sample Disease Detective Test & Key - Division B
• Elementary Sample Exam/Answers 2011

Event Supervisor Resources 

In addition to the resources on the Event Supervisors page, Disease Detective Event Supervisors should be sure to use the following resources:

• Event Logistics Manual (Updated 10/25/22 to fix an error with Can't Judge a Powder)

Career Connections 

• Epidemiology Careers STEM Session
• Center for Disease Control - Career Pathways to Public Health
• STEM Session on Epidemiology (2020)
• STEM Session on Epidemiology (2021)
• Health Science Career Cluster Information
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook: Epidemiologists
• CareerOneStop - Epidemiologist